Top 2026 MLB Prospects: Baseball America Staff Rankings Revealed

Baseball America has kicked off another round of heated debate with its annual preseason Top 100 Prospects list for 2026. After months of scouting, talking with insiders, poring over data, and hashing out disagreements, the rankings provide a glimpse into how top prospect evaluators see the future of Major League Baseball.

How the 2026 Top 100 Prospects List Was Built

Collaboration drives Baseball America’s preseason rankings. Six seasoned analysts each submitted a Top 50 ballot, and those got combined into the final Top 100.

They tried to strike a balance—traditional scouting meets modern data—so both projection and actual performance count for something.

What’s a little different this year? Baseball America decided to show its work. Subscribers can actually see every analyst’s ballot, which makes it easier to spot where opinions match up and where they’re miles apart.

A Blend of Data and Subjectivity

Ranking prospects is always a mix of science and art. Even with all the fancy metrics and thorough scouting, Baseball America admits these evaluations are subjective.

Everyone weighs things like player development, risk, and positional value differently, so disagreement is just part of the deal.

The Clear-Cut Elite at the Top

This year, the top of the list was obvious. Shortstop Konnor Griffin landed the No. 1 spot on every single ballot, thanks to his mix of athleticism, defense, and offensive potential.

Right behind him, Kevin McGonigle locked in at No. 2. The next tier saw JJ Wetherholt and Jesús Made nearly always in the third and fourth spots, which says a lot about their upside.

Why the Top Five Matters

Players ranked in the top five usually end up as franchise cornerstones. Sure, not every elite prospect becomes a star, but this group offers the best blend of upside and likelihood going into 2026.

Where Opinions Start to Split

After the top five, things get interesting. The ballots show plenty of disagreement here, and that’s where the debates really start.

• Walker Jenkins
• Max Clark
• Samuel Basallo
• Leo De Vries
• Colt Emerson

These players each bring something unique. Their spots on the list often show how much the analysts value upside versus how close they are to the majors.

Notable Variance Throughout the Rankings

Further down, names like Nolan McLean, Bryce Eldridge, Thomas White, and Bubba Chandler show just how much opinions can change. Development, position switches, and injuries all play a role in where these guys end up ranked.

Beyond the Rankings: Extra Tools for Prospect Fans

The Top 100 is just a starting point. Baseball America adds extra features for fans who want to dig deeper and argue a little more.

• Players poised to rise in future updates
• Prospects who just missed the Top 100
• Statcast-based leaderboards, like Stuff+, Hit+, and top exit velocities

These extras help put the rankings in context and give a little more insight into player development and performance.

A Conversation Starter for the 2026 Season

Baseball America’s 2026 preseason Top 100 Prospects list isn’t just a ranking. It’s really an open invitation to debate, maybe even argue a little.

By revealing individual ballots, the publication shows that prospect evaluation keeps changing. Rarely do people agree on everything, and that’s actually part of the fun.

 
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